1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SEL Sedan

- Two Owners, Current Owner Purchased in 1985
- 3.8L Fuel Injected V8
- Silver over Gray
- All Original Condition
- Fresh Tune Up at German Auto Service

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SEL on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to its accident and damage-free Carfax history report, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“… it was the W126 S-Class… that saw this model become a top-tier luxury good, a true flagship, and a lasting symbol of affluence throughout the 1980s.” –Hagerty

The much-heralded W126 Mercedes S-class chassis is well-represented in this light blue metallic over gray-leather example, a very well-maintained big Mercedes. The car's odometer shows 94,885 miles, fewer than 2,400 miles per-year on average since new. Stewarded by just two prior owners, the most recent of which acquired it in 1985, this is a properly maintained example.

The car's VIN decodes as follows (courtesy of lastvin.com):

VIN WDBCA33A8BB007705
Model Year 1981
Model 380 SEL
Engine 116961 12 007374
Transmission 02 041358
Order Number 0 0 705 75216
Order Location UNITED STATES (USA)
Interior LEATHER - GRAY (238)
Paint 1 SILVER BLUE METALLIC (930U)
Paint 538



Code Description

410 SLIDING ROOF, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED
440 TEMPOMAT (CRUISE CONTROL)
467 CENTRAL LOCKING MECHANISM AND INSTRUMENTS WITH ENGLISH LETTERING
494 VERSION FOR USA
504 OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR, RIGHT; ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED; L.H.D
519 BECKER RADIO MEXICO GRAND PRIX, ELECTRONIC (USA)
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
531 AUTOMATIC ANTENNA
543 SUN VISOR WITH VANITY MIRROR, ILLUMINATED, LEFT AND RIGHT
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
588 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL AND ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT AND REAR DOORS)
592 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, BAND FILTER
611 COURTESY LAMPS FOR FRONT AND REAR DOORS
639 ELIMINATION OF FIRST-AID BOX AND WARNING TRIANGLE
640 15-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
668 MODE OF PACKING VE III WITH STYROPOR BUMPER RAILS
801 CHANGE OF MODEL YEAR, THE LAST FIGURE SHOWING THE NEW MODEL YEAR

The condition of the exterior metallic silver-blue paint is exceptional: even gloss, no fading or other notable imperfections. All body panels (including the sunroof) are free of dings, dents, or abrasions. This is clearly a “loved Mercedes.” (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Chrome work has also been beautifully maintained. Bumpers show no evidence of even slight “bumps.” Lightly tinted cabin glass and lighting lenses are clear and unspoiled. Factory badging is complete. The 3-pointed-star upright hood ornament is a constant reminder of the heritage of quality and fine materials used in the Mercedes sedans of the time. Factory 14-inch light-alloy wheels (also in excellent condition) with 3-pointed-star center caps are mounted with Roadhandler® 205/70 radial tires.

Inside, the signs of meticulous owner care are evident everywhere. Leather and wood door trim shows virtually no wear at all. Gray carpeting is well maintained and protected by matching Mercedes-Benz-branded carpet mats (which show some discoloration from soiling that never penetrated the mats to reach the carpet). Leather upholstery (with perforated leather inserts) is free of wear or damage showing only expected light creasing from age. The stock, black, 4-spoke Mercedes-star-embossed steering wheel frames a well-kept dashboard showing some small cracks characteristic of the underlayment material used at the time (period-made Porsches have the same trait) when exposed to the sun. Wood trim across the dash, center stack, and the center console is in excellent condition; instrument lenses and switchgear are similarly very well-maintained with crisp, unspoiled graphics. The shift lever for the automatic transmission is located on the console. An Alpine® audio head unit is mounted in the factory-radio location.

Under the hood, the 3.8-liter V8 is centermost in a clean engine bay. Surfaces are original with no obvious modifications; even factory stickers remain in place. All components are properly mounted and all hoses and wiring correctly routed. (In the linked video you can hear the purr of the V8, as well as see how the engine bay—and indeed, the entire car—has been maintained.) Viewed from below, the car's chassis is clean, straight, and undamaged with only expected surface rust on untreated metal.

The car's factory-mounted data and identification tags remain in place.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '81 Mercedes-Benz 380SEL in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.